Swiss Adolescents' Career Aspirations: Influence of Context, Age, and Career Adaptability

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This study investigated the content, realism, stability, and coherence of the career aspirations of 262 students in seventh grade in Switzerland (ages 13-15 years). The content analysis revealed that 82% of the participants named at least one realistic career aspiration, and aspirations showed clear resemblance to existing opportunities in the environment. Quantitative analyses confirmed the hypotheses that realism and stability of aspirations over a 10-month period could better be predicted by individual degree of career adaptability as measured by planfulness and exploration than by chronological age when grade level was controlled for. Coherence of aspirations was not related to age or adaptability. Students attending basic scholastic requirements school tracks reported more adaptability but not more realistic, stable, or coherent aspirations compared to students in advanced requirements tracks.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Career Development
Volume36
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)228-245
Number of pages18
ISSN0894-8453
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.02.2010

    Research areas

  • Business psychology - Career aspirations, Career decision making, Career development, Counseling psychology

DOI

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